Tray attachment for adding machines, typewriters, and the like



Dec. 26, 1950 c. A. LUNDAHL TRAY ATTACHMENT FOR ADDING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 28, 1947 Inventar Gar! A. Lundab/ eon W W Patented Dec. 26, 1950 OFFICE TRAY ATTACHMENT FOR ADDING MA- CHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND THE LIKE Carl A. Lundahl, Waukegan, Ill.

Application October 28, 1947, Serial No. 782,598

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a miscellaneous acce:sories tray of a general utility type which is in the form of an attachment and which, because of its construction, is detachably applicable to standard types of typewriters, adding machines and the like.

There is always use, especially in connection with a typewriter, for a handy tray in which small items such as paper clips, pins, erasers, pencils and the like may be temporarily and conveniently placed for selective use. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a tray which will serve such purposes and which is highly simple and inexpensive and which is formed from sheet material having 3, depending adapter and stabilizing flange along one longitudinal edge, and means associable with said flange whereby same may be separably bolted to exis ing or stock parts on the base portion of a typewriter at either transverse end of the latter.

More explicitly, novelty is predicated upon a tray having an apron-like flange, the same carrying an outstanding, horizontally disposed sheath and said sheath having a slide mounted therein, the sheath and slide being such that they may be relatively adjusted and then fastened in between the basal portion of the typewriter frame and the usual pads or supporting feet with which typewriters are provided.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a tray attachment for typewriters constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view at right angles to Figure 2, the section being on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, and said view showing a fragmentary portion of the typewriter to illustrate the mode of mounting said attachment.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, the tray as a unitary structure is denoted by th numeral 5 and, as before stated, is of one-piece sheet material form. It includes a substantially rectangular plate or body portion 6 having depressions l' and 8 which may be employed as wells for clips, pins and other small articles. One longitudinal edge in portion of the plate is bent upon itself to define a gutter-like channel 9 and an outstanding lip l0. These features [provide a suitable rack for pencils, pens and the like. The opposite longitudinal edge portion of the plate has a relatively deep flange forming an adapter, as at M. This functions as a sort of skirt and, in practice, rests firmly against a surface of the frame l2 of the typewriter l3, as shown in Figure 2. The flange H is sufiiciently deep to suspend the receptacles l and 8 well above any underlying surface (table or the like) on which the typewriter is resting. The lower edge portion of the flange is fashioned into a tubular sheath is and this is apertured as at [5 and It to accommodate an existing fastening screw ll. As shown in Figure 2, the fastening screw is carried by a hanger strip is which is provided on the bottom of the frame of th ordinary typewriter, and which strip serves to support said screw and a rubber, cup-like cushion or foot Id. In different makes of typewriters these "feet vary, but they ar generally in the form of rubber blocks or the like and are screwed in place. In the present invention, the screw is removed and the sheath It is inserted and then the screw is replaced to fasten the sheath, as well as the entire tray, rigidly on the typewriter frame. The sheath I4 alone might well serve to support the whole tray, but it is advisable to distribute the stress and strain and to provide a more elfective support and for this reason I employ a slide 20 which is slidably mounted in said sheath and projectable and retractable and which has a slot, as at 2|, to accommodate another screw ll. Generally, there are two feet on both sides of the typewriter frame, and hence the slot [5 at one end will take care of one screw and the slot 2| will be adjusted to take care of the other screw (not shown).

It is believed to be novel to provide a tray with requisite facilities for clips, pins, small items and the like and with a pencil rack and attaching means parallel to the pencil rack, the attaching means being a flange with a sheath and a slide.

As to the mode of attaching and using the device, it is believed that this aspect of the disclosure is clear and does not require an extended explanation.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, a typewriter frame, a supporting foot on said frame, means for detachably bolting the foot on said frame, a horizontally elongated tray for accessories projecting horizontally and laterally from one side of said frame, said tray having a depending flange of a length commensurate with said tray contacting a vertical portion of the frame, and being further provided with an attaching member laterally disposed in respect to said flange and in a plane parallel to the tray proper, said member being interposed between the frame and foot and being secured in place by the means which is employed to bolt the foot in place.

2. A typewriter attachment of the class described comprising a tray having a depending flange along one longitudinal edge, said flange invention, what is having extensible and retractable attaching members, one member being a sheath, the other member being a slide which is slidably mounted in said sheath, said sheath and slide having apertures to accommodate fastening screws.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an accessories tray attachment for a typewriter comprising a plate provided along one longitudinal edge with a depending stabilizing and attaching, flange, said flange having an outstanding sheath, said sheath being apertured, and a slide projectably and retractably mounted in said sheath, said slide having an aperture, the sheath and slide coacting with one another in providing attaching members adapted to be detachably bolted on a typewriter frame or the like.

CARL A. LUNDAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,501,312 Coysh July 15, 1924 2,012,484 Sherman Aug. 27, 1935 2,125,290 Harris Aug. 2, 1938 

